government of Peru and the companies involved in the
project have met several times with U.S. officials.

U.S government staffers involved in the reviews said
that they have been made aware of the administration's keen
interest in the project, but added that they do not know to
what extent such interest is related to the political clout of
Hunt or Halliburton.

Jon Sohn, international analyst
for Friends of the Earth, said the connections are obvious to
project opponents. "Hunt and Halliburton were involved in
their campaign fundraising, in their transition policies and
in Vice President Cheney's secret energy plan." Last
month, Hunt Oil's chief executive, Ray L. Hunt, toured Camisea
with Toledo, said Carlos Garaycochea, Peru's vice minister of
energy.